Bookbinding and powered punch machine

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a combination bookbinding and power punch machine for punching and binding sheets of paper into a book with a plastic binding edge. The bookbinding machine comprises a frame having a base, a row of punches mounted on the frame for vertical movement with respect to the base thereof and corresponding cooperating apertures spaced in the frame beneath the punches, a pressure bar disposed above the punches and mounted on the frame for vertical movement with respect to the punches, power means arranged for cooperation with the pressure bar for vertically moving the pressure bar in a punching and return direction. There are provided a stationary comb which extends upwardly from the frame and is spaced from the row of punches, and a slide member having uncurling fingers extending therefrom along the upright comb, the slide member being arranged to move transversely with respect to the frame along the comb and longitudinally of the frame toward and away from the comb. An adjustable punching back gauge plate is provided with adjustment means mounted on a common shaft to adjust both the position of the punching back gauge plate to correspond with the depth the holes are to be punched along the border of the sheets to be bound, and the movement of the slide member to correspond with the diameter of the binding element by which the punched sheets are to be bound.

States Patent [191 [111 3,793,660 1 Feb. 26, 1974 BOOKBINDING AND POWERED PUNCH MACHINE [75] Inventor: Raymond E. Sims, Round Lake Beach, 111.

[73] Assignee: General Binding Corporation,

Northbrook, Ill.

22 Filed: Oct. 31, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 302,584

Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT This invention provides a combination bookbinding and power punch machine for punching and binding sheets of paper into a book with a plastic binding edge. The bookbinding machine comprises a frame having a base, a row of punches mounted on the frame for vertical movement with respect to the base thereof and corresponding cooperating apertures spaced in the frame beneath the punches, a pressure bar disposed above the punches and mounted on the frame for vertical movement with respect to the punches, power means arranged for cooperation with the pressure bar for vertically moving the pressure bar in a punching and return direction. There are provided a stationary comb which extends upwardly from the frame and is spaced from the row of punches, and a slide member having uncurling fingers extending therefrom along the upright comb, the slide member being arranged to move transversely with respect to the frame along the comb and longitudinally of the frame toward and away from the comb. An adjustable punching back gauge plate is provided with adjustment means mounted on a common shaft to adjust both the position of the punching back gauge plate to correspond with the depth the holes are to be punched along the border of the'sheets to be bound, and the movement of the slide member to correspond with the diameter of the binding element by which the punched sheets are to be bound.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BOOKBINDING AND POWERED PUNCH MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is related to bookbinding machines and more particularly to a combination bookbinding machine having a powered-punching action and a manually operated binding action.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are several bookbinding machines which combine the punching operation and the binding operation in one machine. For the most part, these machines are manually operated and have the operations separated on the machine where they may be actuated by one handle which operates the punching aspect in one portion of its action and the binding aspect in another portion of its action. For example, the handle may be pulled forward to punch sheets of paper to be bound and then pushed backward or in the opposite direction to bind the punched sheets with a plastic element as is well known in the art.

Although the combination bookbinding and punching machines are effective and have been quite useful there is need for easing the physical task of punching. This is necessary in order to easily and quickly bind books of many paper sheets. While manually operated machines can be equipped with means for reducing the operator punching load which is generally done by a female, it is done so by greatly increasing the machine cost, shortening the life of the machine or lowering the esthetic values thereof which affects the marketability of the machine. Thus, there is a need for the punching aspect of the machine to be powered. This is desirable only if the punching aspect can be powered without excessive cost and without the possibility of impairing the binding operation of the machine.

It, therefore, would be an advance in the art if a bookbinding machine were developed that had a powered punch in combination with a simple low cost binder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have, accordingly, provided an improved bookbinding machine which has a powered punch action and a manually operated binder. The combination powered punching and binding machine for binding a stack of 7,

sheets with a binding element having a backbone and a resilient curled fingers comprises a frame having a base, a row of punches mounted on the frame and guided for vertical movement with respect thereto and cooperating apertures spaced beneath the punches in the base of the frame. A pressure bar is mounted on the frame for vertical movement with respect to the row of punches and power means are provided in cooperation with the pressure bar for vertically moving the pressure bar in a punching and return direction. An upright comb mounted on the frame has fingers extending upwardly therefrom which are engageable with the backbone of the binding element, the comb being spaced rearwardly of the punches. A slide member is movably mounted on the frame and has uncurling fingers extending therefrom along the comb. Guide means are provided for guiding the slide member for movement transversely of the frame along the comb and longitudinally of the frame away from the comb. An adjustable punching back gauge plate is provided with adjustment means mounted on'a common shaft to adjust both the position of the back gauge plate to correspond with the depth, or spacing, of the holes away from the edge of the sheets to be bound, and the movement of the slide member to correspond with the diameter of the binding element by which the punched sheets are to be bound.

It therefore is an objectof the present invention to provide an inexpensive, efficient combination powered punching and binding machine for punching and binding sheets of paper into a book. A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a combination powered punching and binding machine for punching and binding a stack of sheets of paper with a bookbinding element having a backbone and resilient curled fingers on which the stack of punched sheets are impaled.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS taken substantially along line IV--IV of FIG. 3 with certain parts removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view showing certain details of the control mechanism for the one-way clutch, controlling operation of the punch; and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit diagram controlling the operation of the punch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FREF ERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIG. 1, a bookbinding machine 10 embodying the present invention is shown which includes a frame 12 having a base 14 and a detachable casing 16 enclosing the rear end portion of the punching mechanism and power means therefor and enclosing and forming a support and guide for the binding mechanism.

The casing 16 opens to the front of the machine to expose a guide plate 17, mounted on and extending in advance of a pressure bar 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The guide plate 17 with the pressure bar 18 form a guide means for a series of set pins 19 positionable to register with individual punches 20 to effect operation thereof in a selectable pattern.

The base 14 of the frame 12 has a front table or plat form 36 in front of the pressure bar 18 and guide plate 17 upon which a stack of sheets (not shown) to be punched are placed and moved or inserted beneath a stripper plate 21 into engagement with a back gauge plate 22 adjustable to vary the positions of the punch holes from the back of the stack of sheets as desired and described further hereinbelow.

The table 36 has a slot 34 extending transversely thereacross for a portion of the width of the table and parallel to the gang of punches 20. The slot 34 has a stopper gauge 37 mounted therein for adjustable movement therealong to gauge the position of the punch holes with respect to the sides of the stack of sheets to be punched.

The casing 16 has a rectangular opening 23 in the top thereof extending substantially the width thereof and covering a ring uncurling slide member 24 extending along and relatively movable with respect to a slide bar member 25 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The slide member 24 is first moved laterally of the casing 16 along an upright comb 26 to engage the binding rings 27 of a plastic binding element mounted on the comb 26 and is then moved away from the comb 26 by a handle 35 to uncurl the rings 27 of the binding element and retain the rings in position to accommodate the impaling of a stack of sheets thereon. The upright comb 26 extends beneath the top of the casing 16 into the rectangular opening 23 and is mounted at its lower end on a support 29 mounted on the underside of the casing 16 and extending within the opening 23 in parallel thereto and extending forward of the comb 26 and sliding member 24 to the forward end portion of the rectangular opening 23. The support 29 is secured at its forward end portion and mounted on the underside of the casing 16 and extending within the open portion 23 of the casing.

The uncurling slide member 24 has a plurality of uncurling hooks or fingers 30 extending angularly rearwardly and upwardly therefrom through widened laterally extending portions 31 of slots 32 extending through a cover plate 28 closing the opening 23. The teeth of the holding comb 26 also extend through the widened portions 31 of the slot 32. The slots 32 have longitudinally extending portions 33 in registry with the space between the fingers of the comb 26 and extending forwardly therefrom. The widened portions 31 of slot 32 thus accommodate movement of the uncurling fingers 30 of the slide member 24 along the teeth of the comb 26 into the spaces between its teeth to engage the rings 27 of a binding element extending in the spaces between the teeth of the comb 26 and to then move along the longitudinally extending portions 33 of the slots 32 in a forward direction away from the comb 26, to uncurl the rings 27 of the binding element and accommodate a stack of sheets to be impaled thereon. The slots 32 besides forming openings for the uncurling hooks 30 also cooperate with the slide bar 25 to cam the uncurling slide member 24 laterally upon movement of the slide bar in a longitudinally backward direction.

The binding element rings shown may be of a type well known to those skilled in the art having a backbone and curled fingers extending therefrom such as are shown and described in the US. Pat. to Douvry No. 1,970,285, and are not fully shown herein and described in detail. The method of uncurling the rings of the binding element by moving the uncurling hooks or fingers 30 into the curled rings or fingers of the binding element and then by moving the uncurling hooks away from the comb 26 to uncurl the rings of the binding element while the backbone of the binding element is retained in position by the comb is also a conventional method except in the present binding machine, the

handle 35 to which the uncurling slide member 24 is secured is pulled forward when the hooks or fingers are engaged with the fingers 27 of the binding element to open the binding rings as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The handle is arranged to pivot a transverse shaft 13. The shaft 13 is secured to a pivotal member 15 which is in turn secured to member 24 by pin 44. When the curling slide member 24 engages the rings 27 of the binding element, the handle is pulled forward toward the front of the machine to open the binding rings.

The table 36 has die plates 38 recessed therein and flush with the top therof, having die sets 39 extending upwardly therefrom. The die plates 38 and die sets 39 may be placed in an end-to-end relation (not shown) to extend for the width of the casing 16 in a conventional manner, so need not herein be shown or described further.

Each die set 39 includes the die plate 38, and associated stripper plate 21 extending thereabove and along the top of the back gauge 22. It also includes the gang of punches 20 guided in the stripper plate 21 and a guide 40 spaced above the stripper. plate, a stripper member 41 for the punches 20, a pin 42 extending through each punch 20 and limiting the upward travel of the punch and also engaged by the stripper member 41 upon upward movement thereof to effect the positive stripping of the punches from the sheets being punched. Each die set also includes springs 43 encircling certain punches and interposed between the upper side of the stripper plate 21 and the underside of the stripper member 39 and biasing the stripper member 39 into engagement with the pins 42.

The stripper plate 21 has a downwardly stepped rear end portion 45 engaging the die plate 38 and supporting the stripper plate 21 on the die plate 38 in a vertically spaced relation with respect thereto. The stripper plate 21 also has an upward forward end portion 46 from which the guide plate 40 is turned inwardly.

The punches 20 are rectangular in form and extend through rectangular openings (not shown) in the guide plate 40 and through corresponding aligned rectangular openings (not shown) in the stripper plate 21 and cooperating apertures 47 in the die plate 38.

The pressure bar 18 is shown as being of an inverted U-shaped formation having a short front leg 48 and a longer rear leg 50 extending downwardly beneath the guide plate 40 along the rear end portion thereof and having inturned end portions 51 extending under the stripper member 41 for positively moving the stripper member upwardly upon upward movement of the pressure bar 18, to strip the punches 20 from the stack of sheets being punched.

As previously mentioned, the set pins 19 are slidably guided in the guide plate 17 and pressure bar 18 and are positionable to extend within the slot 52 to effect a punching operation and are movable outside of the slot outside of registry with the associated punch 20 to render the punch ineffective to effect a punching operation. The set pins 19 are moved into their effective and ineffective positions by manually pulling or pushing thereon, and are retained in their effective and ineffective positions by the over center posisions of leaf springs 53. The leaf springs 53 are shown in FIG. 3 as being mounted between spacer bars 58, spacing the guide plate 17 outwardly with respect to the pressure bar 18.

The lower end portions of the leaf springs 53 extend within slots 55 formed in the set pins 19. It may be seen from FIG. 3 that leaf springs 53 are moved past a dead center position when the set pins 19 are in their inwardly extended effective positions and thereby hold the set pins in their effective and ineffective positions during oscillatory movement-of the pressure bar 18, and enable the punching pattern to be selected at the will of the operator without removing the set pins from the pressure bar 18.

The back gauge 22 is adjustably mounted in the space between the die plate 38 and the stripper plate 21 and may be adjustably moved with respect to the punches by the back gauge adjusting means shown in FIG. 2. Also shown in FIG. 2 are the binding opening adjustment means for limiting the movement of the uncurling slide 24 along slots 31 to correspond with the size or diameter of the binding element on which the sheets of paper are to be impaled.

As shown in FIG. 2, the back gauge adjustment means include a back gauge adjustment shaft 60 on which an adjustment knob 61 is mounted to be pushed in and turned to adjust the position of the back gauge bar 22. The shaft 60 is mounted on the end frame 62 and side frame 63 which extend upwardly of the table top 36 beneath the casing 16 and which form the bearing support members for the back gauge adjustment shaft 60, and with frame supports 73 the binding opening adjustment shaft 65. Mounted at the inward end of the back gauge shaft 60 is a back gauge pinion and stop member 66 which is arranged to engage a back gauge rack 68 to move the rack forward and backward in the directions of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, by the turning of the adjustment knob 61. The back gauge bar 22 has a nib 70 which is in a camming engagement with a diagonal slot 69 in the back gauge rack 68 and a second slot 71 in the rigid base of the apparatus. A second slot parallel to 71 is provided at the right end of bar 22 for cooperation with a second pin 70. Accordingly, by pushing and turning the knob 61 stop member 66 is rotated moving the rack 68 forward or backward whereby the camming engagement of the slots 69,71 with the nib 70 moves the back gauge bar 22 in a parallel path to a desired position of adjustment. Detent 66a operates in cooperation with arcuately spaced openings 66b, to provide a plurality of angular positions of adjustment of the back gauge. The detent is overcome by pressure knob 61 inwardly to the right against spring 66c before turning the knob.

As shown in FIG. 2, the binding opening shaft 65 is telescopically mounted within the back gauge adjustment shaft 60 and has an adjustment knob 72 which is initially pulled outwardly against spring 660 and, after thus releasing detent 66d, is then rotated to adjust and limit the movement of the uncurling slide member 24 according to the size or diameter of the binding element to be opened. On the inner end of the binding opening shaft 65 is an index cam stop 74 which is set by the adjustment knob 72 according to the size of the binding element to be opened. The index stop 74 limits the movement of the arm 75 rigidly carried by shaft 13 thereby limiting rotation of shaft 13. Accordingly, the movement of the handle 35 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 13, is limited and controlled and with it, movement of slide 24.

Referring now in particular to the drive means for moving the pressure bar 18 up and down, a motor 76 as shown in FIG. 3 is mounted on the base '14 of the main frame 12. The motor 76 may be any well known form of electric motor, and is shown as'driving a transverse drive shaft 77 through a pulley and belt drive 78, and mechanical gear reducer 85. As shown in FIG. 4, where the reducer is not shown, the drive shaft 77 is suitably journalled in the main frame 12 in spaced bearings 80.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive shaft 77 is connected to rocking arms 86 by a crank assembly which includes driving cranks 81 extending from the drive shaft 77 and connected to links 82 by pivotal shafts 83. The links 82 as shown are connected pivotally to the cranks 86 which have actuator pins 88 that engage the pressure bar 18 as known in the prior art. Thus, when the drive shaft 77 is rotated, there is a reciprocating motion of the links 82 which causes the cranks 86 to move the pins 88 downward against the pressure bar 18 to move the pressure bar vertically downward on the punches to in turn move them downward through a stack of sheets of paper under the stripper plate 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, a clutch sleeve 90 which is a part of a one revolution clutch 92 is journalled on the drive shaft 77. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the drive shaft 77 is prevented from rotation by a pin 91, slidably guided in a guide frame part 93 of the main frame 12 and engageable with a slot 94 formed in the shaft 77 to positively hold the shaft 77 from rotation when the pin 91 is in its inwardly extended position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The pin 91 extends within a camming slot 95 formed in the clutch sleeve 90 and opening to the shaft 77 and slot 94. The camming slot 95 has an angular camming surface 96 engaged by the pin 91 by the bias of a spring 97 to effect a non-rotation of the drive shaft 77 as the pin 91 is engaged with the camming slot 95 by the spring 97. The spring 97 is seated at one end on a collar 99 pinned or otherwise secured to the pin 91 and is seated at its opposite end on a casing 100 for a seal 101.

The pin 91 is withdrawn from the slot 94 and the camming slot 95 by a solenoid including an electromagnetic coil 103, and an armature 105, having bifurcated end portion 106 extending along opposite sides of a flattened portion 107 of the locking pin 91 and connected thereto as by a pin 109.

The electromagnetic coil 103 is shown in FIG. 6 as being energized upon the closing of a switch 1 10, which may be a foot switch. As shown, the electromagnet 103 is energized through main line conductors 1 11 and 113 through the main starting switch 112. The foot switch and the stationary and movable contacts 114 and 115, respectively of a relay 116. The relay 116 includes a coil 117 initially energized through conductors 119 and 120 and a switch 122 upon closing of the foot switch 110. This will open the circuit through the stationary and movable contacts 1 14 and and deenergize the electromagnet 103 and will close a circuit through holding contacts 121 and the movable contact 115, holding the coil 117 energized and the switch 115 open after the punching operation.

As the pins 88 are moved downwardly to effect the punching'operation by pressing the pressure bar 18, one rocking arm 86 comes into engagement with the switch 122 to close the switch and complete an energizing circuit to the coil 117 and effect closing of a circuit through the stationary and movable contacts 121 and 115, holding the coil 117 energized upon opening of the switch 122 by upward movement of the rocking arm 86 as long as the foot switch 110 is in its closed position. This prevents closing of a circuit through the stationary contacts 114 and energizing of the electromagnet 103 until the foot is removed from the foot switch 110 and the relay 116 is reset and thereby prevents continued reciprocation of the pressure bar 18 and operation of the punches 20 in cases where the punches may once be operated and the foot may remain on the foot switch 110.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it should be understood that various modifications and variations in the invention may be effected without departing'from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A combined powered punching and manual binding machine for binding books with an element having a backbone and resilient curled fingers, said machine comprising:

a frame having a base;

a row of punches mounted on said frame and guided for vertical movement with respect thereto;

a pressure bar disposed above said row of punches and guided for vertical movement with respect to said punches;

power means mounted on the base of said frame for vertically moving said pressure bar in a punching and return direction;

a stationary comb extending upwardly from said frame, said comb being engageable with the backbone of said binding element;

a slide member having uncurling fingers extending therefrom along said comb, said slide member being arranged to move toward and away from said comb;

a back gauge bar movably mounted within said frame and spaced rearwardly of said punches, said bar being arranged to move toward and away from said punches while remaining parallel thereto; and

adjustment means supported on said frame for both said uncurling slide member and said back gauge bar, said means being mounted for relative axial and rotational movement on concentric shafts and having means thereon to interrupt adjustably movement of said slide member and to position said back gauge bar with respect to said punches.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means for adjusting the back gauge bar includes a rack movable longitudinally with respect to said frame by rotation of one of said shafts, said rack having a camming engagement with said back gauge bar to move the bar to a predetermined position with respect to the punches.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means for said uncurling slide member includes a cam carried by one of said shafts and adjustably positioned in the path of means moving with the handle by which the slide member is moved.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the power means include reciprocating bell cranks connected to rocking arms engaged with said pressure bar.

5. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said rack has a diagonal slot in a camming engagement with a nib extending from said back gauge bar, whereby the movement of the rack positions the back gauge bar.

6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said concentric shafts is held in adjusted angular position by a detent disengaged by axial movement of the respective shaft.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein the said concentric shafts are moved axially in opposite directions to disengage their respective detents in preparation for respective rotational adjustment.

8. In an apparatus for punching and/or binding a plu-.

rality of sheets, including a punch having a plurality of reciprocal punches and cooperating dies, electric motor drive means for actuating said punches including a clutch and a manual switch operable for engaging said clutch to reciprocate said punches once upon each actuation of said switch, and a binding apparatus including a cooperating comb and slide elements for respectively supporting and uncurling a multi-toothed binding member upon separation of said elements, the improvement comprising means for adjustably separating said elements by a pulling movement of a manual lever in the forward direction toward the operator, said means including a pivot for said lever below said elements and a connection between said lever and said slide elements above said pivot. 

1. A combined powered punching and manual binding machine for binding books with an element having a backbone and resilient curled fingers, said machine comprising: a frame having a base; a row of punches mounted on said frame and guided for vertical movement with respect thereto; a pressure bar disposed above said row of punches and guided for vertical movement with respect to said punches; power means mounted on the base of said frame for vertically moving said pressure bar in a punching and return direction; a stationary comb extending upwardly from said frame, said comb being engageable with the backbone of said binding element; a slide member having uncurling fingers extending therefrom along said comb, said slide member being arranged to move toward and away from said comb; a back gauge bar movably mounted within said frame and spaced rearwardly of said punches, said bar being arranged to move toward and away from said punches while remaining parallel thereto; and adjustment means supported on said frame for both said uncurling slide member and said back gauge bar, said means being mounted for relative axial and rotationAl movement on concentric shafts and having means thereon to interrupt adjustably movement of said slide member and to position said back gauge bar with respect to said punches.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means for adjusting the back gauge bar includes a rack movable longitudinally with respect to said frame by rotation of one of said shafts, said rack having a camming engagement with said back gauge bar to move the bar to a predetermined position with respect to the punches.
 3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means for said uncurling slide member includes a cam carried by one of said shafts and adjustably positioned in the path of means moving with the handle by which the slide member is moved.
 4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the power means include reciprocating bell cranks connected to rocking arms engaged with said pressure bar.
 5. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said rack has a diagonal slot in a camming engagement with a nib extending from said back gauge bar, whereby the movement of the rack positions the back gauge bar.
 6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein each of said concentric shafts is held in adjusted angular position by a detent disengaged by axial movement of the respective shaft.
 7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein the said concentric shafts are moved axially in opposite directions to disengage their respective detents in preparation for respective rotational adjustment.
 8. In an apparatus for punching and/or binding a plurality of sheets, including a punch having a plurality of reciprocal punches and cooperating dies, electric motor drive means for actuating said punches including a clutch and a manual switch operable for engaging said clutch to reciprocate said punches once upon each actuation of said switch, and a binding apparatus including a cooperating comb and slide elements for respectively supporting and uncurling a multi-toothed binding member upon separation of said elements, the improvement comprising means for adjustably separating said elements by a pulling movement of a manual lever in the forward direction toward the operator, said means including a pivot for said lever below said elements and a connection between said lever and said slide elements above said pivot. 